Cuscuta epithymum (L.) L.

General Appearance

Cuscuta epithymum (L.) L., it is a holoparasitic climber annual. Stems slender, much-branched, often reddish or purplish; flowers (2.5-)3-4(-5) mm, 5-merous, mostly sessile, sometimes shortly pedicellate; glomerules 5-10 mm in diameter, dense, globose, each with a subacute bract at its base. Calyx usually shorter than corolla-tube, sometimes about as long; lobes triangular, acute, sometimes lanceolate and acuminate; corolla-lobes patent triangular, acute, rarely acuminate, mostly shorter than the campanulate tube. Stamens exserted; anthers often purple-tinged. Scales spathulate, shorter than tube, fimbriate, connivent over the ovary. Styles (including stigmas) about as long as to much longer than the sub globose ovary, exserted. Capsule enveloped by the corolla. Seeds c. 1 mm.

Life Form

Pa

Phytochoria

ES+MED+IT. The native range of this species is Macaronesia, Europe to Xinjiang.

Distribution in Libya

Sirte Plains: Siret 1933

Benghazi Plain: Benghazi 1933

Al-Jabal Al-Akhder: Reported from Derna by Durand & Barratte Al-Mansora 2013 Al-Mansora 2017 Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar 2021

Marmarica Plateau: Reported from Tobruk by Durand & Barratte and Pampanini Mekhili 1920

Ghat area: Ghat (Between Acacus and Tassili Mountains) 2004 Wadi Tanezzuft 2012

Notes

Wild in Libya.

This species is accepted: https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:267419-1

Link of images: https://maltawildplants.com/CONV/Cuscuta_epithymum.php, https://www.gbif.org/species/2927518, https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/cuscuta/epithymum/, https://www.gbif.org/taxon/32LQY, https://www.i-flora.com/en/the-smartphone-apps/iflora-deutschland/species/art/show/cuscuta-epithymum-1.html

For more information

https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:267419-1, https://www.ipni.org/n/267419-1, https://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-0001296657, https://www.gbif.org/taxon/32LQY, https://africanplantdatabase.ch/en/nomen/specie/139956/cuscuta-epithymum-l-l, https://maltawildplants.com/CONV/Cuscuta_epithymum.php, https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.1079/cabicompendium.17114, https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/cuscuta/epithymum/, https://www.i-flora.com/en/the-smartphone-apps/iflora-deutschland/species/art/show/cuscuta-epithymum-1.html, https://flora.org.il/en/plants/cusepi/

Bibliographic References

First: Encyclopedia Flora of Libyan:

Jafri, S.M.H. & El-Gadi, A. (1978) Flora of Libya, Cuscutaceae Vol. (53) Department of Botany, Al-Faateh Univ., Tripoli, Libya. Page. 3.

Second: Researches and PhD theses, master theses, Sorted by Newest:

El-Mokasabi, F. M., Askar, A. M., Hassan, S. A. Al-Darawi, M., Al-Bakoush, A. M. (2021) A preliminary survey of the parasitic plants on wild plants in the Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar region. A special issue of the Fifth Annual Conference on Theories and Applications of Basic and Life Sciences. (4) September 2021. Faculty f Science-University of Misurata. (In Arabic) https://www.misuratau.edu.ly/journal/sci/paperS.php?id=1642&ed_id=305

حصر أولي للنباتات الطفيلية المتطفلة على النباتات البرية بمنطقة الجبل الاخضر 2021

Dakeel, E. H., Alaib, M. A., & Asker, A. M. (2017). Comparative Study of Medicinal Plants in Al Mansora and Jarjar oma, Al Jabal Al Akhdar, Libya [Version 1; awaiting peer review]. Control, 1, 4. https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=0IlfctkAAAAJ&hl=ar, https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=8C9KFnIAAAAJ&hl=en

Medicinal Plants in Al Mansora and Jarjar oma, Al Jabal-Al Akhdar 2017

Abusaief, H. M. A. and Dakhil, A. H. (2013) The floristic composition of Rocky habitat of Al Mansora in Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar- Libya. New York Science Journal 2013; 6(5). https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Huda-Abusaief

Foristic composition of Rocky habitat of Al Mansora in Al- Jabal Al- Akhdar 2013

Mukassabi, T.A, Ahmidat, G., Sherif, I.M., ELMogasapi, A. (2012) Checklist and life forms of plant species in contrasting climatic zones of Libya. Biological Diversity and Conservation – 5 / 3 (2012) https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/biodicon/issue/55888/765799 , https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259357995_Checklist_and_life_forms_of_plant_species_in_contrasting_climatic_zones_of_Libya

Checklist and life forms of plant species in contrasting climatic zones of Libya. 2012

Ahmidat, Gh. (2004) Study of the vegetation cover of the area between the Acacus Mountains and the Tassili Mountains (Ghat). Master Thesis. Department of Botany.College of Science. Sebha University. Libya. (In Arabic).